ISLAMABAD: President Dr. Arif Alvi has said the government would decide about the French ambassador’s expulsion and relations with the Paris considering the Parliament’s vote on resolution being debated in the National Assembly.
Formulation of foreign policy is prerogative of the government, but Parliament can put forward its recommendations regarding any foreign policy matter, he said.
It is responsibility of the government to look into the roadmap Parliament sets on issue of the French envoy’s expulsion from Pakistan over the publication of blasphemous caricatures, President Dr Arif Alvi added.
He expressed these views in an interview with Voice of America (VOA). He said that the resolution has been tabled in the Parliament which represents the public in a democratic country.
In reply to a question that if government will expel French ambassador after approval of the Parliament, the President responded; “it is too earlier to comment over this as the matter is still under debate in the parliament,”.
He said resolution in the parliament to expel French envoy reflects feelings of people on the caricatures issue and government will look into the matter if resolution is passed by the House.
Dr Alvi, however, backed the Prime Minster Imran Khan’s view that the decision to remove the French envoy would not in the favor of the country.
Pakistan’s President further said peace is global requirement, adding that the violent protests in Pakistan by religious groups are the result of anti-Islam strategies in Europe, adding that the controversial policies of the Europe are creating differences among different civilizations and religious sects.
Dr. Alvi said Islamophobia in Europe is leading civilizations towards confrontation and recent violent protests in Pakistan are because of Europe’s behavior on the sensitive issue dear to every Muslim.
Dr Alvi pointed that to insult others or others’ religion on pretext of freedom of expression is totally ‘unjust’.
“Even it’s a serious crime in some countries of Europe to speak or insult Holocaust,” he recalled.
While explaining the core reason behind violent protests against the sanctity of the Prophet (PBUH), he said “Europe don’t have realization on sensitively of the matter as whenever any such disrespectful practice would be done there, the Muslim countries would react.”
On declaring Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), a religious-political party a banned organization, Dr Alvi clarified that the decision may be followed to put pressure on the outfit so that dialogue could bee made successful.
Talking about the Kashmir issue, he reaffirmed that Pakistan would never compromise on Kashmir issue. He said cease fire agreement with India have nothing to do with the Pakistan Kashmir policy and it’s not fair to say that this agreement would undermined the Kashmir issue.
Pakistan’s President also applauded American President Joe Biden’s Afghanistan peace plan, hoping that it will bring peace in the region. Pakistan would continue to facilitate Afghan peace process which is in it’s favour and the region.
Talking about the post withdrawal role of the country, he says Pakistan wants to help rebuild Afghanistan. Pakistan is in the best position to do so, he added.
“We hosted 3.5 million refugees. Pakistan can play a big role in construction, in providing know-how, and in lifting the education and health sectors in Afghanistan”.
Pakistan also hopes good prospects of Pakistan-US ties under Biden administration.
Dr. Alvi was inspired from Biden when they met during his Washington visit in 2011 and exchange views about region. He believes that President Biden would invest in peace instead of wars.
Talking about 18th constitution amendment President Alvi said that the objections of Prime Minister Imran Khan on that amendment are valid and the matter is under discussion at the forum of Council of Common Interests, the highest forum on matters related to provinces and the federation.
On role of current opposition in the Parliament, Dr Alivi said as legislation is responsibility of legislative houses but due to non-cooperation of the opposition parties the government was compelled to accomplish such tasks through Presidential orders tagged as ordinances.
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